Saul asks to be forgiven

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I disobeyed what you told me to do, which is what Yahweh commanded. I did that because I was ◄afraid of/worried about► what my men would say if I did not do what they wanted. So I did what they demanded. 25 But now, please forgive me for having sinned. And come back with me to where the people are in order that I may worship Yahweh.”

26 But Samuel replied, “No, I will not go back with you. You have rejected/disobeyed what Yahweh commanded you to do. So he has rejected you, and declared that you will no longer be the king of Israel. So I do not want to talk any more with you.”

27 As Samuel turned to leave, Saul tried to stop him by grabbing the edge of Samuel’s robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, “You tore my robe! And today Yahweh has torn away from you the kingdom of Israel! He will appoint someone else to be king, someone who is a better man than you are. 29 And since the one who is the glorious God of the Israeli people does not lie, he will not change ◄his mind/what he has said►. Humans sometimes change their minds, but God does not do that, because he is not a human.”

30 Then Saul pleaded again. He said, “I know that I have sinned. But please honor me in front of the leaders of the Israeli people and in front of all the other Israeli people by coming back to them with me in order that I may worship Yahweh your God.” 31 So Samuel finally agreed to do that, and they went together back to where the people were, and Saul worshiped Yahweh there.